Courtesy Treehugger writer Jesse Fox, we bring this interview with Stacey Frost of Urban Re:Vision.

“A block is to the city as a cell is to the human body.”

Stacey Frost is an interesting woman, to say the least. When this former cattle rancher, neuropsychologist and options trader decided to focus on renovating historical buildings, she became acutely aware of the need for greater sustainability in the urban environment.

The result was Urban Re:Vision, a two-year, six-part international design competition to stimulate innovative thinking about the components of a sustainable city. After collecting hundreds of original ideas, Frost set out to make her vision a reality.

Last month, a design charrette was held in Dallas, where Urban Re:Vision is leading the creation of a fully sustainable city block, complete with on-site energy, food production and affordable micro-lofts.

TreeHugger: Urban Re:Vision had a big year in 2008, holding the last of six international competitions to redefine the way we build our cities. What were your goals in holding these competitions and what has been accomplished through them?

Stacey Frost: Our goal for the series of competitions was to gather as many ideas as possible, looking at all aspects of sustainable development. We wanted to allow people to share and collaborate on these ideas with the hopes that some of them will become a reality, inspire innovation, and set an example of what the future holds.

Through each of our competitions, we were often surprised at the caliber and approach that entries took – and that for each competition a theme emerged that was unexpected. We have gathered hundreds of inspirational, and realistic, approaches to creating a new way of building sustainably.

[ Read entire interview @ Treehugger ]